Incidence of unemployment by duration in Japan
Japan: Incidence of unemployment by duration was 25.44 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
25.44 Percentage of population in the same subgroup
Change on year
up 13.5%
World rank
15th
of 38 countries
All-time high
30.62 Percentage of population in the same subgroup
in 1985
All-time low
17.99 Percentage of population in the same subgroup
in 2012
Years of data
49
1977–2025
Incidence of unemployment by duration in Japan, 1977–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of population in the same subgroup.
Analysis
The most recent figure for incidence of unemployment by duration in Japan is 25.44 Percentage of population in the same subgroup, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.5% on the previous year and up 21.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, incidence of unemployment by duration in Japan peaked at 30.62 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 1985 and was at its lowest, 17.99 Percentage of population in the same subgroup, in 2012.
That places Japan 15th out of 38 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 49 years of available data.
Incidence of unemployment by duration in Japan, year by year
| Year | Percentage of population in the same subgroup | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 28.35 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | — |
| 1978 | 29.71 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +4.8% |
| 1979 | 27.74 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -6.6% |
| 1980 | 27.83 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 26.95 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -3.1% |
| 1982 | 30.56 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +13.4% |
| 1983 | 29.84 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -2.3% |
| 1984 | 30.12 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.9% |
| 1985 | 30.62 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.7% |
| 1986 | 26.99 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -11.9% |
| 1987 | 26.23 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -2.8% |
| 1988 | 25 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -4.7% |
| 1989 | 28 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +12.0% |
| 1990 | 23.4 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -16.4% |
| 1991 | 28.36 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +21.2% |
| 1992 | 30.43 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +7.3% |
| 1993 | 30.52 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 27.84 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -8.8% |
| 1995 | 29.15 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +4.7% |
| 1996 | 27.52 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -5.6% |
| 1997 | 26.67 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -3.1% |
| 1998 | 25.9 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -2.9% |
| 1999 | 24.68 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -4.7% |
| 2000 | 23.91 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -3.1% |
| 2001 | 25 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 19.6 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -21.6% |
| 2003 | 20.23 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 20.26 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 21.31 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 20.37 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 21.05 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 21.71 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 22.39 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 18.94 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -15.4% |
| 2011 | 18.61 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 17.99 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 18.68 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 21.4 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +14.6% |
| 2015 | 21.03 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 22 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 22.03 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 23.67 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +7.4% |
| 2019 | 22.36 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 21.16 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -5.3% |
| 2021 | 19.25 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -9.0% |
| 2022 | 20 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 22.94 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +14.7% |
| 2024 | 22.41 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -2.3% |
| 2025 | 25.44 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +13.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 28.6 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 27.74 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 29.71 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 3 |
| 1980s | 28.21 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 25 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 30.62 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 1990s | 27.45 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 23.4 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 30.52 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.58 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 19.6 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 25 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.67 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 17.99 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 23.67 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.87 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 19.25 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 25.44 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 12 Canada 26.74 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 13 Russia 26.31 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 14 Argentina 25.52 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 16 Australia 25.07 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 17 Malta 23.73 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 18 Belgium 23.39 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
More work & labour data for Japan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4984 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.5262 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4728 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.25 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.4618 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 103,039 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,756 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 39,867 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 36,979 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 76,846 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is incidence of unemployment by duration in Japan?
- Incidence of unemployment by duration in Japan was 25.44 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest incidence of unemployment by duration recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 30.62 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 1985.
- What is the lowest incidence of unemployment by duration recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.99 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2012.
- How does Japan rank for incidence of unemployment by duration?
- Japan ranks 15th out of 38 countries with data for 2025.
- Is incidence of unemployment by duration rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Incidence of unemployment by duration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This table contains data on the share of the five durations - less than 1 month,>1 month and < 3 months,>3 months and <6 months,>6 months and <1 year, 1 year and over - of unemployment among total unemployment by sex and by standardised age groups (15-19, 15-24, 20-24, 25-54, 55+, total). Detailed notes and sources can be found in LFS_NOTES_SOURCES. In order to facilitate analysis and comparisons over time, historical data for OECD members have been provided over as long a period as possible, often even before a country became a member of the Organisation. Information on the membership dates of all OECD countries can be found at OECD Ratification Dates.